Memorial Day weekend is a time when families plan cookouts and gatherings to mark the beginning of the summer season. Memorial Day is when we honor soldiers who have died while in the military service. This weekend, Cheboygan is filled with activities focused on families, friends and honoring both soldiers and graduates.

Cheboygan’s High School seniors graduate on Sunday. But before the official ceremony takes place, another CHS tradition takes place on Friday courtesy of the graduating class: the annual shaving cream fight! This is one of the greatest spectacles to witness and I dare say it is unique to Cheboygan grads. The seniors spend Friday morning rehearsing for the graduation ceremony and then upon conclusion of the rehearsal, they head to center circle at Gordon Turner Park, cans of shaving cream in hand. This is clean, albeit fragrant, fun for the grads and gives them a chance to blow off some steam with their classmates. After having their fun, the students are responsible for cleaning up their mess and the park is returned to the condition it was in before they started. Graduating from high school is a momentous occasion for the graduate and their family, but this is a Cheboygan tradition that is quite something to witness!

For those of us who are not graduating this year, we may find ourselves at graduation open houses over the weekend. Did you get your shopping done for the graduation parties you will be attending? Think about the many offerings that downtown retailers have for the graduate.

On Memorial Day, there is a Day of Remembrance activities planned. A Memorial Day service will be held at the Cheboygan Armory at 10 a.m. Then at 11:15 a.m., there will be a service to honor all fallen veterans in Washington Park. Immediately following, there will be a procession south on Main Street to Court Street to the Veterans Memorial Park. At Noon, a brief service will take place at the Pine Hill Cemetery. Taps will be played by two members of the Cheboygan Area High School band.

This weekend marks the beginning of the summer season in northern Michigan. Enjoy the weekend and the many activities taking place in and around downtown Cheboygan.

Kirsten Guenther is the Downtown Enhancement Administrator for the City of Cheboygan. Kirsten can be reached at kguenther@cheboygan.org.